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Environment and sustainable development
The indicators are updated every two years, the results of which are published in a brochure (Environment Indicators brochure-2005 publication-pdf file, 4.6 Mb – In French).
Meetings in Alsace to discuss the environment are also organised.
1. The methodology behind the indicators
For each theme (water, natural environments, energy, waste, education on the environment, occupation of space), regional experts have selected appropriate indicators making it possible to measure long-term environmental improvement or degradation.
Thirty three indicators are made available based on existing data. The collation of these data is done by a partnership of the following associations: APRONA (association for the protection of the water table in the Alsace plain), ASPA (association for monitoring and studying atmospheric pollution), ODONAT (office for natural scientific data), ARIENA (regional association for education on the environment and nature), “Alter Alsace Energies”, territorial communities (General Council of Bas-Rhin, General Council of Haut-Rhin, Region Alsace), regional nature reserves, State departments, the Rhine Meuse water agency and the Environment and Energy Management Agency (ADEME).
2. The state of the environment in Alsace in 2005
The general trend continues to be one of progressive deterioration of the quality of this natural heritage.
The condition of water courses is improving, but few of them offer adequate suitability for sustaining aquatic life. The deterioration of the quality of underground water resources continues, mainly due to pollution.
Atmospheric pollution is diminishing as far as pollution of industrial origin is concerned; conversely, objective air quality values have been exceeded for pollutants emitted by road transport (particles, nitrogen oxide, benzene and ozone).
Ecological diversity is affected by property development, which translates as an average uptake of 1047 hectares per year between 1984 and 2000.
Energy consumption has increased by +35% over the last fifteen years. Significant progress has been recorded in the solar energy and wood energy sectors; the room for manœuvre is very broad in terms of energetic efficiency.
Household waste is to a great extent exploited, principally through incineration energy (60%); ways forward exist in terms of recycling materials, organic beneficiation and the waste produced by very small Alsatian companies.
The environmental education network, with its 50 associations grouped together within ARIENA, has taken care of 260,000 participant days, thanks to 311 employees corresponding to an equivalent of 150 full time staff.
3. Alsatian environment meetings
Organised every two years, the Alsatian environment meetings strive to mobilise the various environmental players in Alsace (local elected officials, associations, institutional partners) on the publication of indicators on the state of the environment.
The 2005 edition approved a regional indicator for monitoring biodiversity, which will be measured annually using 23 indicators. It also highlighted the absence of available data on the development of wetlands in Alsace and on the quality of the soil.
The debate on “Town Planning, Transport, Agriculture and Biodiversity: what regional strategy for balanced space management ?”, introduced by Christian BRODHAG, inter-ministerial delegate on sustainable development, made it possible to put the situation in Alsace into perspective compared with the French and European context.
The next edition will take place on 22 June 2007.
last update : 06.05.2007